Vox pop

The PM is losing public support because he is not doing enough

The PM is losing public support because he is not doing enoughThis refers to Barkha Dutt's article Introspect, and act (Third Eye, June 9). As the head of a coalition government, it is the prime minister's duty to keep the allies united and not give into their unreasonable demands. Manmohan Singh has failed to do that. That's why people do not trust him today. Also, it is high time that Singh realises that decency cannot be a substitute for inaction.--Neha Panwar, New Delhi

Why don't commentators like Dutt realise that Singh, unlike many former India prime ministers, does not believe in making false promises to his voters? The prime minister deserves credit for India's economic liberalisation of 1991, the Indo-US nuclear deal and the passage of the Right to Information Act. Instead of highlighting his various achievements, the media is trying to malign his reputation by blaming him for all the present social and economic problems. It's incorrect to blame the prime minister and his UPA government for the delay in the passage of the Lokpal Bill in Parliament. The Opposition is equally guilty for that.--Pathikrit Chakraborty, Lucknow

We are choosing wrong heroesWith reference to Namita Bhandare's article Idealism, where has it gone? (Another Day, June 9), it is true that in this country we don't know how to choose role models and reward them suitably. We never recognise the efforts of all the underpaid nurses who save so many lives everyday or give credit to the people who set up schools and hospitals from their savings. Instead, we venerate filmstars who poach animals, criminals who make it to Parliament and businessmen who make money by dubious means. --Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkata